Automatic sheep-dipper.



J. J. ROBERSON.

AUTOMATIC SHEEP DIPPER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4. 1914. IIENEWED AUG.2. I9I5.

1,152,910. Patentedsept. I', 1915.

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1.1. R0BERS0N.

AUTOMATIC SHEEP DIFFER. APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4. 1914 RENEWED AUG. 2|915.

l l 52,9 l O. Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

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I Suva/wko@ PatentedSept 7, 1915 3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

I P IIII J. 1. ROBERSON.

AUTOMATIC SHEEP DIFFER.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I4. 1914.

RENEWED AUG. 21 1915.

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rr sfrajr JOHN JAMES ROBERSON, OF SPRINGVILLE, UTAH.

AUTOMATIC SHEEP-DIFFER.

Application filed March 14, 1914, Serial No. 824,811.

To all whom t may conce/ra Be it known that l, JOHN J.' ltoBniisoN, acitizen of the United States, residing at Springville, in the county ofUtah and State of Utah, have invented `certain new and patentableImprovements in Automatic Sheep-Dippers; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention,such as will enable others slrilled in the art to which it pertains tomake and use the same.

This invention relates principally to the care of live stock but moregenerically to an apparatus for dipping sheep into a treating liquid forthe purpose of cleaning disease germs in or on the hide.

@ne object of my invention is to minimize the time and labor required inthe process of dipping sheet by providing an apparatus having means tofacilitate the handling and dipping of large numbers of sheep or otheranimals in an expeditious manner.

Another obj ect of this invention resides in providing va trap mechanismactuated by the weight of the sheep toprecipitate the latter into thetreating liquid.

Another and further object of this invention is to provide a meanswhereby the trap may be normally maintained in a fixed position, and atpredetermined intervals released to permit the sheep to be dropped intothe treating liquid.

Another object resides in providing a blind at one extremity of theapparatus by means of which the sheep may be enticed to traverse thetrap mechanism.

Another and final object of this invention is to provide a series offloors for the trap mechanism arranged in angular relation, whereuponwhen one of the floors has been actuated by the sheep traversing thesame, another of said lioors will be brought into a horizontal plane toreceive the on coming sheep.

With these and other objects in view my invention consists of certainnovel details of construction, combination and arrangement of parts tobe more particularly set forth and claimed. l

Referring to the accompanying drawings in which corresponding parts areindicated bv similar reference numerals throughout the various views,Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved sheep dipping apparatiis;Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof; Fig. 3 is a longitudinal verticalsection taken on Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 7, 1915.

Renewed August 2, 1915. Serial No. 43,341. l

the line 3-7-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section takenon line 4 4 of Fig. 2; Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on the line 5 5 ofig. 2; Fig. 6 is a similar view taken on the h ne (56 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7is a detail perspective view of one of the castings forming the trapmechanism; Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view yillustrating a modified form ofthe trap releasing mechanism; Fig. 59 is a top plan view of thestructure shown in Fig. 8; and Fig. 10 is a transverse vertical sectiontaken on the line 10-10 of Fig. 8.

Briefly stated, my invention contemplates a runway upon which the sheepmay be driven, an endless conveyer arranged in the length of the runwayand adapted to convey the sheep to a trap situated at the innerextremity of the endless conveyer and located above a suitable liquidcontaining receptacle, the trap being so constructed as to be actuatedby the weight of the'sheep so as to precipitate the latter into thetreating liquid, said trap however, being normally retained in ahorizontal position by suitable tripping mechanism, which atpredetermined times is operated so that the trap may revolve under theweight of the sheep thereon.

To this end, my invention comprises a well 1 which is disposed beneaththe ground surface and adapted to contain a suitable treating liquid ordisinfectant. The well 1 is provided with an inclined cleated wall 2extending to the ground surface by means of which the sheep may ascendto the latter after being dipped, and also with the side extension 2. Onopposite sides of the well 1 in alined relation are a series ofverticallv arranged suitably spaced standards 3 which extend from theupper end of the inclined wall 2, toa point .to the rear of the well.Secured to the outer surfaces ofl the standards 1 contiguous to theupper extremities thereof are side boards 4 which are so arranged as toproduce the inclined and horizontal runways 5 and.

Reinforcing beams 7 upper extremity of the standards 3 and extendtransversely across the runways to firmly brace the sides thereof, aswill be readily understood without further description. The inclinedrunway 5 is provided with a fixed cleated floor 8 up which the sheep maybe driven to an endless conveyer to be hereinafter mentioned.

The horizontal runway has theboards thereon spaced from its inner `endand the are secured to the i latter circumscribed by a wire screen 9,the circumscribed end of the horizontal runway being provided with afixed platform or floor 10. This arrangement is for the purpose offorming a blind on which a few sheep may be placed so as to entice othersheep to traverse the trap, and vin this manner be precipitated into thetreating solution. Disposed longitudinally in the hori- Zonta-l runway 6is an endless conveyer 11 extending from the upper end ofthe inclinedfloor 8 toa point in the horizontal runway, approximately above theinner end of the well 1. This endless conveyer consists of two endlesschains 12 extending around the sprocket gears 13, formed on cylinders13', which latter are keyed to the shafts 14 and 15 having theirextremities journaled in the bearings 16, and secured to the uprightsorA standards 3 as clearly shown in Fig. 2.

Tread boards17 are disposed transversely between the two endless chains11 and securedr at their opposite extremities thereto. To preventsagging of the upper stretch of the endless conveyer 11, the lowermostside boards of the horizontal runwayv are provided with inwardlyextending vsupports 1S which form runways over which the endless chains12 may travel.

To operate the endless conveyer 11, the shaft 14 is provided` with anextension 19 on the outer extremity of which is mounted a powerpulley`19, the latter being suitably connected with propelling means(not shown). Extension 19 is provided with a crank 20, the purpose ofwhich will be hereinafter described. AIn order that the sheep may beprecipitated into the treating solution, there is provided a trappingmechanism intermediatet-he inner end of the endless conveyer 1.1 and theplatform 10. This trapping mechanism comprises a plurality of angularlyarranged floors 21 whose extremities are secured upon the outer edges ofthe Aradially projecting arms 22 extending from the castings or hubs 23,the latter being keyed upon the extremities of the 4shaft 24 which hasits vends revolubly mounted in the bearings 25 secured to the standards3. Between the arms 22 of the castings23 there are formed the angularshaped projections 26 having apertures 27, the purpose of which will behereinafter referred to. By arranging the floors in angular relation asherein above described, it will become apparent that when one of thelatter is disposed in a horizontal position in the runway 6 and istraversed by one of the sheep, it will be revolved under the weight ofthe latter and carrieddownwardly which operation will cause thefollowing ioor to be disposedin proper horizontal position so as toreceive the on coming sheepl as will be understood without furtherdescription.

However, as it is only desirable to release the floors 22 atpredetermined intervals, a trap releasing mechanism is provided,consisting of a rod 29, the latter being secured to the exterior surfaceof the standards 3. One end of the rod 29 is arcuate-shaped as at 30 andthe opposite end 30 is adapted to project into the openings 27 formed inthe angular projections 26 of the castings 23, which openings, when thefloors are in horizontal position, register with said end 30 of the rod23 so as to receive the same, and thus securely retain the floors inproper position to be traversed by the sheep conveyed thereto by theendless conveyer 11.

lnasmuch as the arcuate-shaped end 30 of the rod 29 is disposed in thepath of the crank 2O it will be seen that said rod will be actuated andthe end 30 disengaged from its seat, whenever the crank 20 contactstherewith, and the sheep thereon dropped into the treating liquid,consequently kthe floors 22 will be released whenever the sha ft 14makes a complete revolution. To normally maintain the end 30 in theopenings 27 as well as to retract the rod 29 after the actuationthereof, a spring 31 has one end secured to the wire screw 31 whichlatter is fastened to one of the standards 3, the other end of saidspring being connected te the rod 29 as at 32. f

es a modification of the trapping mechanism just described, T mayprovide the casting or hub 23 with notches 33, said notches f beingadapted to receive the upper extremity of the lever 34 which is pivotedintermediate its ends on one of the bearings 25, the lower end of saidlever proyecting from the bearing and coperating with a pin 36 formed onan extension of the shaft 15, from which vit will be seen that everycomplete revolution of the shaft will disengage the lever andconsequently permit the Hoor to revolve under the weight of the sheep,as will be readily understood without further description.

ln order that the operator may be informed to the number of sheepdipped, I provide a casing 37 at the inner end of the shaft 24. llithinthe casing is a pinionBS which meshes with a pinion 39 formed on theinner end of the shaft 24. This pinion 3S actuates a series of meshingpinions 40 which controls the recording device 40', as will be readilyunderstood without further description.

Thus it will be seen that with my improved device constructed as above,the modus 0;??- crcmdz' will be as follows: The sheep are driven up theinclined floor 8 to the endless conveyer 11 by means of which they arecarried to the revoluble floors 21, and in attemptingto cross the same,to reach the sheep in the blind, they are by reason of the release ofthe trapping mechanism and displacement of the floors precipitated intothe treatvso ing solution, from whence they may ascend by means of theinclined floor 2 to the ground surface.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided an extremely simple andefficient means for quickly and conveniently disinfecting the hides ofsheep or other animals in a minimum time required for such process.

Although by the foregoing I have described certain elements as bestadapted to perform the functions ascribed to them, nevertheless it is tobe understood that various minor changes of form, substance, etc., maybe resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without departingfrom or sacrificing any of the principles of this invention. j

Having now described my invention, what I claim is z- 1. In an automaticsheep dipper, the combination with a runway and a tank disposed beneaththe same, of a trap mechanism situated in the length ofv the runwayabove the tank, and including a shaft rotatably secured to and extendinglongitudinally of the runway, a plurality of angularly arranged floorscarried by said shaft, and adapted to have their upper surfacessuccessively brought into horizontal alinement with that of the runwayfloor, means to lock said floors as the latter are brought into saidhorizontal position, and other means cooperating with the last mentionedmeans to actuate the latter and release said floors substantially as andfor the purpose set forth. n

2. In an automatic sheep dipper the combination with a runway and a tankdisposed beneath the same, of a trap mechanism situated in the length ofthe runway above said tank and including a shaft rotatably secured toand extending longitudinally of the runway castings keyed upon theextremities of said shaft, radially extending arms carried by saidcastings, a plurality of floors disposed between the latter, and havingtheir extremities secured to the arms thereon, whereby the upper surfaceo-f said floors may be successively brought into horizontal alinementwith that of the runway ioor, means to lock said rotatable oors as thelatter are brought into said horizontal position and other meanscoacting with the last mentioned means to actuate the latter and releasesaid horizontally disposed floor substantially as and for the purposeset forth.

3. In an automatic sheep dipper the combination with a runway and a tankdisposed beneath the same; of an endless conveyer traveling in thelength of said runway, means to actuate said conveyer, a trap mechanismdisposed at the inner extremity of said conveyer, and including a shaftrotatably secured to and extending longitudinally of the runway, aplurality of angularly arranged floors carried by said shaft, and

adapted tohave their upper surfaces successively brought into horizontalalinement with that of said conveyer to form a continuation thereof,means to lock said rotatable floors as the latter are brought into saidhorizontal position and means in connection with said conveyer actuatingmeans for cooperation with the first mentioned means to actuate thelatter and release said floors substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

Ll. In an automatic sheep dipper the combination with a runway and atank disposed beneath the same of an endless conveyer traveling in thelength of said runway, means to rotate said conveyer, a trap mechanismsituated at the inner extremity of said conveyer', and including a shaftrotatably secured to and extending longitudinally of the runway,castings keyed upon the extremities of said shaft, radially extendingarms carried by said castings, a plurality of floors disposed betweenthe latter and having their extremities secured to the arms thereon,whereby the upper surfaces of said floors may be successively broughtinto horizontal alinement with that of said conveyer, means to lock saidrotatable floors when the latter are brought into a horizontal position,and means in connection with said conveyer rotating means for coperationwith the last mentioned means to actuate the latter and release saidfloors substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an automatic sheep dipper the combination with a runway and a tankdisposed beneath the same; of a trap mechanism situated in the length ofthe runway above said tank and including a shaft rotatably secured andextending longitudinally of the runway, castings keyed upon theextremities of said shaft, radially extending arms carried by saidcastings, an apertured projection formed on the latter intermediate eachof said arms, a plurality of floors disposed between said arms, andhaving their extremities secured thereto whereby the upper surfaces ofsaid floors may be successively brought in horizontal alinement withthat of the runway floor, a locking rod reciprocatively secured to theside of the runway and extending longitudinally thereof, one end of saidrod being adapted to normally project into the opening formed in theprojection on said casting when the floors are brought into a horizontalposition, means coperating with the opposite end of said rod toreciprocate the latter and withdraw the engaged end thereof from saidopening to release said floors, and means to assist in restoring saidrod to its normal position substantially as and for the purpose setforth.

6. In an automatic sheep dipper, the combination with a runway, thelatter including spaced supporting members having side sections securedthereto and a iiooring arranged intermediate the same, the flooring andone of said side sections having therein an opening of a Well, beneathsaid runway, an endless eonveyer disposed in the opening in said doorand extending longitudinally of the runway, means to aetuate saideonveyer, a trap mechanism also arranged in said floor opening above thewell and at the inner eX- tremity of said endless eonveyer, said trapmechanism consisting of a. shaft extending longitudinally across theopening in said side section and rotatably connected at its extremitiesto adjacent supporting members, a plurality ot' angularly arranged loorsearried by said shaft and adapted to ybe rotated through the opening insaid side seetion whereby to bring their upper surfaces into horizontalalinement with that of said eonveyer, means to look said ioors after thelatter have been brought to horizontal position, and means in connectionWith saidoon Veyer actuating means for ooperation With the lastmentioned means to aotuate the latter and release said floorssubstantially as and Jfor the purpose set forth.

JOHN JAMES ROBERSGN vWitnesses J. L. VVHITING, BIRD HUNTINGTON.

Copies of this patent maybe obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents,

i Washington, D. C.

